Corporate Governance

Ten Target stores in the San Francisco area are experimenting with a new mobile shopping app called Curbside, which promises to deliver the next generation of commerce.

Curbside launched its mobile app this week to make finding, buying and getting the things shoppers need from their favorite local stores faster and easier than ever before, according to the company. Target is among the retailers whose stores are participating in the Curbside app.

The Woodlands, Texas – Conn’s Inc. is considering a sale of the company, as well as splitting up its retail and credit businesses, following a cut in its profit forecasts in its second quarter results. Other options could include reducing the pace of new store openings and returning capital to investors.

Palo Alto, Calif. -- Curbside, a new startup that specializes in same-day pickup from local stores, launched its service on Monday with several retailers on board, including a pilot with Target Corp.

The new service is currently available in 10 Target stores across the greater San Francisco Bay area, including the retailer’s Metreon and Geary St. locations downtown.  

New York -- Uniqlo celebrate the opening of its store at Roosevelt Field, Garden City, New York, on Oct. 3.

The Roosevelt Field store is the retailer’s ninth store in the state of New York, and its 32nd in the United States.

Uniqlo currently more than 1,400 stores in 16 markets worldwide. The company is a brand of Japan’s Fast Retailing Co, whose brands also include Comptoir des Cotonniers, GU, Helmut Lang, J Brand, Princesse tam.tam, Theory.

Party City has promoted Gregg A. Melnick to president of Party City Holdings, effective immediately. Party City Holdings is the parent company of the Party City Retail Group and Amscan Inc., among other entities. Most recently, Melnick was president of the Party City Retail Group.  

Bentonville, Ark. – Walmart is expanding its role in health care. The retail giant is teaming up with DirectHealth.com, an online health insurance comparison site and agency, to set up counters in its stores where shoppers can speak with licensed agents about available health insurance options. Walmart’s expanding role in health care comes as drug store chains, including Walgreens and CVS, continue to beef up their own healthcare services.

Cincinnati - Phillips Edison–ARC Shopping Center REIT Inc. acquired 11 grocery-anchored shopping centers during third quarter 2014. The company's portfolio now consists of 131 properties located in 27 states and leased to 38 leading grocery store anchors.

The 11 grocery-anchored shopping centers acquired during the third quarter to date expanded the company's presence in 10 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Longtime CPG industry executive and former GMDC president Rick Tilton has been laid to rest after passing away at his Arizona home on September 20.